Page 479 - The_secret_teachings_of_all_ages_Neat

matron beside him; and on the central throne two young persons over whose heads hung
a large and costly crown, about which hovered a little Cupid who shot his arrows first at
the two lovers and then about the hall. Before the Queen a book bound in black velvet lay
on a small altar, on which were golden decorations. Beside this were a burning candle, a
celestial globe, a small striking-watch, a little crystal pipe from which ran a stream of
clear blood-red liquor, and a skull with a white serpent crawling in and out of the orbits.
After their presentations, the guests retired down the winding stairs to the great hall.

Click to enlarge
KEY TO THE GREAT PHILOSOPHICAL SECRET.

From Ashmole's Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum.

This plate, which is the key to mystic Christian alchemy, is missing from almost every copy of the
Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum, a work compiled by Elias Ashmole and containing about a score of
pieces by English poets treating of the Philosopher's Stone and the Hermetic mysteries. In view of the
consistent manner in which the plate disappeared, it is possible that the diagram was purposely removed
because it revealed too plainly the Rosicrucian arcana. Worthy of notice also is the care with which owners'
names have been effaced from early books pertaining to alchemy and Hermeticism. The original names are
usually rendered illegible being covered with heavy ink lines, the procedure often seriously defacing the
volume, While an occasional exception is found, in practically every instance the mutilated books either
deal with Rosicrucianism or contain cryptic writings of suspected Rosicrucian origin. It is presumed that
this Practice of obliterating the owners names was to prevent the early Rosicrucians and Hermetists from
being discovered through the volumes composing their libraries. Elias Ashmole's plate shows the analogies
between the life of Christ and the four grand divisions of the alchemical process. Herein is also revealed the
teaching that the Philosopher's Stone itself is a macrocosm and a microcosm, embodying the principles of
astronomy and cosmogony, both universal and human.

p. 163

Later the Virgo Lucifera announced that a comedy was to be performed for the benefit of
the six royal guests in a building called the House of the Sun. C.R.C. and his companions
formed part of the royal procession, which after a considerable walk arrived at the
theater. The play was in seven acts, and after its happy ending all returned through the
garden and up the winding stairs to the throne room. C.R.C. noticed the young King was
very sad and that at the banquet following he often sent meat to the white serpent in the
skull. The feast over, the young King, holding in his hand the little black book from the
altar, asked the guests if they would all be true to him through prosperity and adversity,
and when they tremblingly agreed he asked that each should sign his name in the little
black book as proof of his fealty. The royal persons then drank from the little crystal
fountain, the others afterwards doing likewise. This was called the "Draught of Silence."
The royal persons then sadly shook hands with all present. Suddenly a little bell tinkled
and immediately the kings and queens took off their white garments and donned black